Today's book review is from WomansDay.com editorial intern Chanel Parks. She read The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore.

Today's book review is from WomansDay.com's Editorial Intern Chanel Parks. She read The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore.

You're never too old to come home…or at least that's what The Arrivals taught me. Set during a long, hot summer in Burlington, VT, William and Ginny Owens have company in the form of their three adult children, Lillian, Stephen and Rachel. They all seem to have perfect lives: Lillian as the resilient stay-at-home mom, Stephen living a comfortable life with his pregnant wife, Jane, and Rachel, an up-and-coming casting director in fast-paced New York City. However, one by one they end up back in their childhood home, realizing that life doesn't always go as planned.

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After Lillian leaves her husband behind in Massachusetts, she can barely keep up with her two kids and finds solace in an unlikely person—the young priest and new guy in town, Father Colin. Stephen decides to take swollen, workaholic Jane on an impromptu weekend trip to Burlington, despite her objections. But when Jane starts having problems with the baby, the two get stuck in the Owens' abode longer than planned. Finally, the youngest, Rachel, finds her life in ruin after her live-in boyfriend Marcus breaks up with her, leaving her heartbroken, broke and with countless excuses to run home to Mommy and Daddy. Throughout the summer, personal secrets unravel and turn the homey atmosphere into heated chaos.

Moore's omniscient writing allows her to capture the tragic yet honest characters presented in the novel. Whether it's the anxieties of settling down or the hardships of dealing with betrayal, Moore covers a plethora of problems that plague contemporary life. The reality of the changing landscape of the family is brought to the forefront, sparking a discussion between traditional values and evolving anomalies.

The Arrivals takes unexpected turns and shows that under even the worst circumstances, family can be the best foundation on which to fall back. I recommend reading this novel during your travels or on your morning public transportation commute—that way, you'll have more appreciation for the comfort of home.